News Headlines (109) 29 December 2012

ONLINE TODAY

► People With Mental Disorders More Likely to Have Experienced Domestic Violence

► First 'Alien Earth' Will Be Found in 2013, Experts Say - by Mike Wall, SPACE.com Senior Writer | Date: 27 December 2012

► Analysis: For Senate leaders, a mission impossible from Obama - By Richard Cowan | Reuters 

► Russia's proposed ban on US adoptions: What would it mean for orphans? Children's rights advocates say there's nothing wrong with efforts to reduce international adoption – if those efforts are focused on strengthening families and encouraging domestic adoption. Russia, however, has a long way to go to find domestic families for its orphans. - By Mark Trumbull | Christian Science Monitor – Thu, Dec 27, 2012

► The 9 worst political gaffes of 2012 - By Peter Weber | The Week 

► Least Visited Places - Who Knew? Videos | For 364 days a year, Kiribati is one of the world’s most forlorn spots. But this isolated Pacific island gets its moment of fame on New Year’s, when it’s the first place on earth to greet the New Year.

► Total Hooey: The Strangest Non-Stories of 2012 - By Benjamin Radford, LiveScience Bad Science Columnist | LiveScience.com –  Thu, Dec 27, 2012 

► Yoko Ono Talks About Other Beatles’ Resentment Of Becoming 'Paul's Band' 

► How to Make Perfect McDonald’s-style French Fries at Home

► Should Women Shave Their Faces? 




► Jessica Simpson Wears 7-Year-old ‘Magic Sweater’ for Sunny Day at the Beach  

► College student's turtle project takes dark twist - By JEFFREY COLLINS | Associated Press –  Thu, Dec 27, 2012 

► Indian protests after rape death 

Thousands of people stage peaceful protests in India's capital, Delhi, after a woman who was gang-raped in the city dies at a Singapore hospital. 72
* Why does India treat women so badly? 
* Enough! say rape protesters - VIDEO
* In pictures: Protests at death
* Rape death prompts press anger 

► 21 December 2012 -  Your highlights of 2012 in pictures 

► Paraguayan orchestra using instruments made from rubbish. 29 December 2012 - An orchestra of young musicians from a Paraguayan slum has been touring South America, using instruments constructed entirely from recycled materials. They pulled them from the rubbish dump around their homes. Russell Trott reports. (VIDEO)

► 27 December 2012 - A panda in a zoo in Fu Zhou, China, was rushed to hospital after it began choking and vomiting. An examination revealed that a piece of steamed corn bread was stuck in its oesophagus. It is now recovering after an operation. (VIDEO) 

► 29 December 2012 - Peter Higgs: honour for physicist who proposed particle By Paul Rincon Science editor, BBC News website  (My older post on Astrid Adrienne (25))  || DAILYMAIL - Battle of the professors: Richard Dawkins branded a fundamentalist by expert behind the 'God particle' 


► 28 December 2012 - Wikipedia's most searched articles of the year revealed

► 28 December 2012 - 2012: The year's science and tech news in one graphic 

► 29 December 2012  - The numbers of the year 2012 

► Bangkok' s hippest hostels 

► Why did the Antarctic drilling project fail? 

► Liquid traditions around the world 

► 28 December 2012 -  Week in pictures: 22-28 December 2012

► 29 December 2012 -  50 years of the UK in space 

► 28 December 2012  -  In pictures: The amazing wildlife of Africa 

It is not without reason, ... why do I want to linger looking at you? (What, Cisca? Cool-eyed monkey?)

Oh, nope. Please do not be offended. Yesterday my fiance was thinking that he would make a report to the United Nations. He wrote, "This morning my fiancée has been kidnapped by a monkey!"

....

► 28 December 2012 - Big Picture: Interactive antique globe

► Six charged with murder after victim dies in Indian gang-rape case 

► Senate extends warrantless wiretapping under FISA 

► 'US, Russia plunging into new Cold War' 

► Oliver Stone to RT: 'US has become an Orwellian state'
► Anonymous threatens to take down California police department 

► Brahimi: Only two ways for Syria - political process or hell 

  There are three crucial things that have to be managed on the conflict in Syria. Cessation of conflict and violence, the humanitarian assistance to civilians and political transition. They are interdependent, because they can strengthen or weaken each other if there is no progress.  Especially with regard to the political transition, it is important to underline the importance of a natural political process. Now, what happens is there's no a forum for both parties to meet without preconditions. This condition needs to be changed. About the position should be carried by Assad needs to be seen through consensus after the talks.

In the field, both sides are equally feeling that they have the upper hand, that they can win with a military option. There is a tendency for self-fulfillment on both sides. The opposition believes Assad will soon fall, while the regime believes that the opposition can be defeated. Both parties should resolve their differences through the political process. Too bad if the political process is stalled because there is still debate about the Assad's future. Some figures from the opposition insisted Assad resignation should be a precondition for the start of the political process. On the other hand, some countries such as Russia finds that whether or not Assad retreat is supposed to be the result of a political process.
****

► Russia hopes 'reasonable' Syrian opposition will seek dialogue 

► Sweater made by Burmese dissident 'Amay Suu' sold for $49k

(My admiration for this lady has been reduced than before.)

► Breaking the ice: Kingdom of Snow to open in Moscow

► No small potatoes: Belgium and France argue over origins of French fries 

► South2North - Comedy: 'An agent for change'. Published on Dec 28, 2012 :: Is our political life enriched or undermined by humour that makes fun of those in power? We that question to South African cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro, stand-up comedian Nik Rabinowitz, comedy pioneer Kagiso Lediga and comic Dean Obeidallah.



► Talk to Al Jazeera - William Lacy Swing: Enabling a mobile world. Published on Dec 29, 2012 :: The director general of the International Organization for Migration discusses global migration and how it is impacting all of us.



► Listening Post - Syria: Battles fought, lives lost, lies told. Published on Dec 29, 2012 :: This week's Listening Post special takes a chronological look at a year of battles fought, lives lost and lies told in a war that, as the cliché says, has claimed as one of its casualties, the truth. (VIDEO) 

Latest Headlines

■ Gay Marriage Law Goes Into Effect in Maine
■ N.Y. Woman Arrested in Slaying of 2 Firefighters 
■ Strike Likely Averted at East Coast Ports 
■ U.S. Shuts Embassy in Central African Republic 
■ Burma to Allow Daily Private Newspapers 
■ Argentina's Fight on Defaulted Debt Takes New Step
■ Pakistan: Bhutto's Son Launches Political Career 
■ Hawaii Lieut. Governor Picked to Fill Senate Seat 
■ U.N. Envoy, Moscow Call for Revival of Syria Plan
■ EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson Announces Resignation
■ U.S. Jobless Aid Applications Fall to Five-Year Low
■ Death Toll from Northeast Storm Rises to Nine 
■ CNN: North Korea Likely Deceived U.S. 
■ CNNMoney: The Rich Will Pay More Taxes Next Year 

► After the Fiscal Cliff: Big Business Against Mom and Pop

By Scott Gerber
* Obama 'Optimistic' on Fiscal Deal, Urges Senate to Forge Pact 
* Fiscal Cliff Interactive: What the First Month Looks Like

► Indian Gang Rape Victim Dies in Singapore Hospital
       * India Rape Sparks Violent Protests (PHOTOS) 

► The Great Housing Rebound of 2012: How the Fed Helped Sellers Beat the Odds 

► TIME's 10 Most Underreported Stories of the Year

► Putin Signs Adoption Ban: Meet the U.S. Families Caught in a Diplomatic Tailspin

► 10 Big Retail Trends from the 2012 Holiday Shopping Season

► Hugh Jackman: Les Miz's Leading Man Talks to TIME

Featured

■ The Lamest Tech Moments of 2012
■ Oscar Watch: The Best Actors of 2012
■ Cartoons of the Week: December 22-28
■ NBA: The Tale of Two Sad Sacks

► Rainbows in the Frame: Emblems of Hope in a Dark Year
► Rainbows in the Frame: Emblems of Hope in a Dark Year
► A Year of Photographers in the Picture 

► Newtown carries on, with reminders everywhere 

* Opinion: Packyour guns, kids 
* N.Y. gunman wrote he was best at killing
* Poll: Support for gun control rises 
* L.A. gun buyback breaks record 

Ibi, Spain - A combatant scores a direct hit with a carton of eggs during Els Enfarinats, part of the local annual celebration of the Day of the Innocents, in which participants dress in military garb and stage a mock coup using raw eggs and flour as weapons. PHOTOGRAPH BY: MORELL / EPA

► FRAMEWORK  - The Week in Pictures | December 24-30, 2012 Posted By: Marc Martin